This blog started off by focussing on NZ's smaller 3rd level airlines, past and present. It has evolved to trying to present some record of NZ's domestic airline operations and some of the larger charter operators, interesting NZ international airliner movements and photos I have taken around the country. Comments, corrections or contributions are welcome, Steve - westland831@gmail.com

14 January 2016

Auckland Airport Hopper

Barrier Air has announced that it will offer City Hopper flights between North Shore Airport at Dairy Flat and Auckland International from 1 February 2016. As the Barrier Air's Facebook page explains, "Why waste precious time in traffic, pay for parking, or even worse pay over $100 for a taxi??"

Auckland to North Shore I have doubts over. Hamilton could potentially work in the Caravan, but they have a long way to go convincing the public they are a reputable & safe airline unfortunately. And of course,- turning up in a banged up old Chieftain with paint flaking off, oil stains and speed tape is not going to help much with the required convincing !

Funny you mention that aeroplane convincing thing. Last summer my wife, daughter and I traveled up to a friends bach on Great Barrier Island - via Auckland. We were booked on great barrier airlines and when we went out on the tarmac my wife was actually shocked at the state of the plane (was a PA31) When she first saw it she actually thought it was a farmers private plane or something just visiting, it had no distinct markings or anything, missing paint etc as mentioned above. I have a background in engineering in a very previous life in the RNZAF and it looked ok to me,- bit shabby but nothing obviously unsafe. I thought the trip over was great, rather comfortable, the pilot was a great chap to talk to as well. Anyway when we got on the island there were two Islanders from flymysky there for whatever reason and my wife said we were going back to Auckland with them because they looked a bit more professional. I didn't think so, they just had a bit of paint and a livery on their planes,- still were a little shabby also. But the wife had her mind made up and needless to say the trip home was less comfortable. We are going back up there in a fortnight but the wife is booking us on flymysky which is a shame for me as I really wouldn't mind going in the C208B. Never been in one before.

what market would be trying to use this? i would guess if you wanted to link to a welly or chch flight for a days work, south bound is prob OK but north bound might be too early? i think even 30mins connection at Auckland would be tight?

You have to keep in mind that these Q300 services have been operating on a Sunday. When they take over the Taupo route, their weekday schedule will not suit business people. I think what they need to do is overnight a Q300 in Taupo. There's not a lot of reason to come to Taupo for business - it's more a tourist destination but people still need to do business in Auckland where all the big companies base out of. I also think the Hamilton route (to Auckland) being dropped is not right. It is cheaper to drive to Auckland from Hamilton with the price that Air NZ sometimes has - prices as high as $163 but nobody will pay that when they can drive cheaply. Air NZ has got the Hamilton route wrong and as a result they won't have a chance at a Q300 service which would bring cheap fares similar to the price of driving. This is where Air NZ needs to step back and think. They should fly TUO to AKL via HLZ in the morning and return at late afternoon/night then overnight the aircraft. Air NZ is never going fill a Q300 without picking up extras from Hamilton where some people actually want the service to be kept. I compare this situation to Wanganui. They have been serviced by the beechcraft for a long time but the difference is they overnight their aircraft. You can be im Auckland at 8am and be back at 7:35pm and have a full days business. I notice looking at the Air NZ website that their schedule is not changing when they change to Q300's. This really is a success story because of the overnighting of the aircraft which ultimately enables for passengers to use the service. When Taupo gets their Q300's full time, Taupo will become a lost cause. Just a thought.